The Yuma County Sheriff noted that since Joe Biden's arrival in the White House, the influx of illegal immigrants has skyrocketed from 40, to a thousand a day. Seated before the Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee, Leon Wilmot denounced how in these last two years, the cartels have exponentially increased their drug and human trafficking business, due in large part to the impotence of the authorities and the suffering of the population.
According to the official, drug cartels are charging between $6,000 and $15,000 to smuggle people into the U.S. across the southwest border. In 2022 alone, deputies from the Yuma Sheriff's Office, reported some 4,600 encounters with people who had paid smugglers to cross the border. Wilmot lamented that just two years ago, his county was among the safest on the border, a situation that has changed dramatically.
Use of minors to introduce fentanyl
The sheriff highlighted how the criminals are using children and adolescents, who they ensnare through social networks, to smuggle drugs, especially fentanyl. "Children are also the pawns in the cartel's money-making schemes. Roughly 400 to 800 juveniles cross our border every day to go to school in Yuma County. The cartels use them to conceal and carry narcotics on their person across the border and tell them that the federal government will not charge a juvenile for smuggling, so you don't have to worry about being arrested," he said during the House Judiciary Committee's field hearing.
🚨 LIVE FROM THE BORDER: Arizona Sheriff CONFIRMS President Biden's policies are creating SLAVES and DRUG MULES from across the globe. WOW!
No wonder Democrats didn't want to join our @JudiciaryGOP hearing! pic.twitter.com/r0iiIy4Rru
— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) February 24, 2023
Crime on the rise in Yuma
The increase of people crossing the border has caused "an environmental disaster" in the area between the river and the open fields as a result of garbage, pharmaceuticals and biological waste "left by illegal border crossers." In addition, crimes in the area have multiplied, such as sexual exploitation of minors, drug trafficking and possession, assaults, kidnappings, robberies and thefts. According to Wilmot, five million doses of fentanyl were seized at the Arizona border alone in fiscal year 2021. During the past year, agents confiscated 12,000 pounds of the same substance.
They also warned about the health safety implications for the citizens of the area caused by this flood of people entering the country. Dr. Robert Trenschel, president of Yuma Regional Medical Center, noted that they have only one hospital and three ambulances to care for the thousands of illegals who come to them, as well as the county's residents.
One hospital, three ambulances, and thousands of illegal immigrants in need of assistance.
President Biden's open border entices migrants to make the dangerous trek to our country, and the care they need prevents Americans from receiving timely healthcare in Yuma, AZ.
— Congressman Jeff Van Drew (@Congressman_JVD) February 23, 2023
"Abject failure" of the Biden Administration
Yuma County Supervisor, Jonathan Lines, called on Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, to keep his word and close the gaps in the border as he promised to do during his visit last year. Lines also echoed the sheriff's allegations and lamented "the abject failure" of the Biden Administration in its immigration policy.
Every community in the United States is now a border community due to an abject failure by this administration to control and stem the tide of illegal entry along the southwest border and to commit to take back control of the border from the cartels.
Last night, @JudiciaryGOP was at the border in Yuma, AZ.
No matter how many times @SecMayorkas tries to avoid the truth, the border is WIDE OPEN for migrants to illegally come into the U.S. In fact, OVER 200 crossed in this area after we left.
Don’t believe me? Watch this⬇️ pic.twitter.com/YQuWtYc9Ld
— Congressman Ben Cline (@RepBenCline) February 24, 2023
